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USA Fencing Recognizes Athletes Who Earned Ratings in November

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – More than 450 athletes earned new USA Fencing ratings during the month of November with athletes representing 206 clubs throughout the nation.

A: 55

B: 68

C: 87

D: 88

E: 181

Sixty-five fencers earned ratings at the November NAC in Kansas City, Mo. which featured Y14, cadet and junior events. Fourteen-year-old Faith Park (Lorton, Va.) earned her first A not once, but twice at the NAC, placing fifth in the junior women’s épée event on Friday and winning the Y14 competition the next day to upgrade her previous B18.

In just over a year, 13-year-old épée fencer Kent Iyoki (Lucas, Texas) went from earning his D17 to scoring an A18 at the NAC with his seventh-place finish in Kansas City. The multi-weapon fencer also earned a C18 at the Battle in Seattle RJCC after a bronze medal win in the cadet foil event.

Iyoki was one of four athletes to earn ratings in more than one weapon last month. Brazilian Pierre Souza racked up a trio of E18s in the épée, foil and saber events, winning all three weapons in mixed competition at the Master of Arms Challenge @ The Point. John Foxworth (Grand Blanc, Mich.) earned a D18 in foil and an E18 in saber at the Apple Cider D & Under. Matthew Gosmeyer (West Lafayette, Ind.) also earned ratings in two weapons, renewing his E in saber at the Purdue Fall Open and earning a first-time E rating in épée at the Indiana Division Qualifier.

The November ratings awards also included 2016 Olympian and 2017 Pan Am silver medalist Julieta Toledo (MEX) who earned her A18 in saber with a gold medal at the BladeRunner Div IA ROC. Samantha Achterberg (Colorado Springs, Colo.), a three-time reigning Modern Pentathlon National Champion, earned her C18 in épée with a bronze at the Falcon Open.

The Fencing Academy of Westchester had the most athletes earn ratings in November of any club in the nation with a total of seven – four foil and three epee.

With 30 rated fencers, Fencers Club leads the overall standings of clubs with the most fencers who have earned a rating since the start of the 2018-19 season. Alliance Fencing Academy follows with 21 with Denver Fencing Center in third with 20.